Jacko killed by 'Mr X' not doc Mystery fingerprints found on death syringeAccused's lawyer says he can't be convicted

Death scene... syringe and Jacko's bedroomExclusive by James Desborough, US EditorApril 17, 2011THE fingerprints on the syringe that killed Michael Jackson are NOT his doctor's, we can reveal.

The bombshell new evidence means Dr Conrad Murray could walk free from his trial for involuntary manslaughter, which starts in just three weeks.

And it supports his theory that a "Mr X" injected Jacko with a lethal dose of Propofol - before stealing more than a million dollars of his cash and fleeing.

Police will not be able to disprove Murray easily because in another twist they have LOST 24 hours of CCTV footage from Jacko's mansion that would have shown exactly who was inside when he died.

A source close to the case told the News of the World: "The mystery fingerprints are the biggest breakthrough for Murray so far. If it is handled right it would mean a jury cannot convict him.

"Murray and Michael were the only ones supposedly at the house at the time. And all the syringes were vacuum-packed and sterile before use.

"The fingerprints point to someone else being there and using the fatal syringe."

Murray's lawyer Ed Chernoff has now adopted the catchphrase: "If the print doesn't fit, you must acquit."

It comes from OJ Simpson's lawyer Johnnie Cochran - who said, "If it doesn't fit, you must acquit" about a glove OJ was supposedly wearing when he allegedly murdered his wife. The jury found him not guilty.

The fingerprints on Jacko's syringe do not belong to any of his family or staff - and no one knows whose they are.

I never wanted him to die - he was my friend

They were found by Murray's legal team after they asked the Los Angeles Police Department for the coroners' "evidence box". Inside it were several syringes from Jacko's bedroom - including the one doctors said killed him - plus pills, drips, oxygen tanks and his clothes.

Murray's lawyers had them dusted for prints. Jackson, 50, overdosed on the powerful sedative Propofol in June 2009. Cardiologist Murray, who was paid £90,000 a month by the singer to be his personal doctor, is accused of negligently administering the drug.

He denies the charge, and faces up to four years in jail if found guilty. His lawyers will argue someone else gave Jacko the drug through a drip into his leg. They believe the mystery killer is the same person who swiped huge wads of cash lying around the mansion Jackson was renting in LA.

The "Mr X" defence ties into our exclusive story on how the Jackson family frantically called staff to try to find a massive sum of missing money in the hours after Jacko died. His children Paris, 12, and Prince, 13, sister LaToya and mum Katherine are all expected to testify at the trial that Jacko had bundles of $100 notes which vanished.

Our source said: "The missing CCTV tape also helps the theory.

"Bodyguards say they handed over 24 hours-worth of footage from the day, which showed everyone who came and went.

"Chernoff's been told it is no longer available. Somehow only a few minutes of the footage is left."

The twists could mean Murray, 56, may not even have to speak at the trial. He doesn't want to take the stand - and his team plan to submit a statement saying: "I didn't do it, and I don't know how it happened. I am deeply sorry for Michael's death. I never wanted him to die - he was my friend."

His lawyers will also point out he would be mad to kill his employer, who paid him more than a million dollars a year.

But even if Murray is cleared of manslaughter, he will face a battle to clear his name.

Last week court papers showed he was making flirty texts and calls to three women while Jacko lay dying. And we previously revealed he failed to administer proper CPR, refused to tell doctors about injecting Propofol and hid details of Jacko's pill use.

Jury selection starts this week and the prosecution's opening statements begin on May 9.

Yesterday the LA District Attorney's office and Murray's spokesman refused to comment.

But a Jackson family spokesman said: "They are concerned about all the matters around the death. They are unsure Conrad Murray will ever go to prison.

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